'Exterminate the Traitors': the Wagga Wagga and District Trades and Labor Council, Trade Unionism and the Wagga Wagga Community 1943-60

Labour History

Volumn , Issue 72, 1997, Pages 101-122

  Eather, Warwick ^a  

^a NONE

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EID: 85010496654     PISSN: 00236942     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.3828/27516468     Document Type: Article

References (172)

1. Wagga Wagga and District Trades and Labor Council (TLC), leaflet, n.d. (1995).
2. Daily Advertiser (DA), 19 October 1911, p. 2, 17 October 1912, p. 3, 14 October 1919, p. 2, 5 October 1922, p. 3, 5 October 1943, p. 2, and 27 April 1946, p. 3;
3. Communist Review, February 1936, p. 55;
4. and Nancy Blacklow, Regional Support For The Riverina New State Movements In The 1920s and 1930s, BA (Hons) thesis, Charles Sturt University, 1992.
5. Andrew Moore, The Tyranny of a Small Town', Australian Studies, no. 17, 1992, p. 29.
6. O. Foenander, Studies in Australian Labour Law and Relations, Melbourne, 1952, p. 94;
7. L. Ross, Trade Unions', in Australian Encyclopaedia, Vol 9, Melbourne, 1958, p. 14;
8. Robin Gollan, Revolutionaries and Reformists: Communism and the Australian Labour Movement 1920-1955, Canberra, 1975, pp. 14-15;
9. C. Donn and G. Dunkley, T h e Founding of the ACTU', Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 19, no. 4, 1977, pp. 404-23;
10. B. Dabscheck, T h e Internal Authority of the ACTU', Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 19, no. 4, 1977, pp. 388-403.
11. R. Martin, The Rise of the Australian Council of Trade Unions', Australian Quarterly, vol. 30, no. 1, 1958, pp. 30-42 and
12. The Authority of Trade Union Centres: The Australian Council of Trade Unions and the British Trade Union Congress', Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 4, no. 1, 1962, pp. 1-19.
13. Gerard Griffin, The Authority of the ACTU', The Economic and Labour Relations Review, vol. 5, no. 1, 1994, pp. 81-103.
14. Jim Hagan, The History of the ACTU, Melbourne, 1981.
15. Jim Hagan, p. 453.
16. Raymond Markey, In Case Of Oppression: The Life and Times of the Labor Council of New South Wales, Sydney, 1994.
17. Raymond Markey, p. 4.
18. Bradon Ellem and John Shields, 'Why Do Unions Form Peak Bodies? The case of the Barrier Industrial Council', Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 38, no. 3, 1996, pp.377-411.
19. Rod Noble is completing a MA thesis at the University of Newcastle which is essentially a history of the Newcastle Trades Hall Council. See also Warwick Eather, The Trenches at Home: The industrial struggle in the Newcastle iron and steel industry 1937-1947, PhD thesis, University of Sydney, 1986.
20. Eric Aarons, What's Left ?: The Memoirs of an Australian Communist, Melbourne, 1993, p.124.
21. Mark Bray and Malcolm Rimmer, Delivering The Goods: A History of the NS W Transport Workers' Union 1888-1986, Sydney, 1987;
22. Bradon Ellem, In Women's Hands? A History of Clothing Trade Unionism in Australia, Kensington, 1989;
23. Mark Hearn, Working Lives: A History of the Australian Railways Union (NSW Branch), Sydney, 1990;
24. John Merritt, The Making of the AWU, Melbourne, 1986;
25. Bruce Mitchell, Teachers, Education and Politics: A History of Organisations of Public School Teachers in New South Wales, St. Lucia, 1975;
26. Robert Murray and Kate White, The Ironworkers: A History of the Federated Ironworkers' Association of Australia, Sydney, 1982;
27. Tom Sheridan, Mindful Militants: The Amalgamated Engineering Union in Australia 1920-1972, Melbourne, 1975;
28. Frank Waters, Postal Unions and Politics: A History of the Amalgamated Postal Workers' Union of Australia, St. Lucia, 1978.
29. Ross McMullin, The Light on the Hill: The Australian Labor Party 1891-1991, Melbourne, 1991;
30. Graham Freudenberg, Cause for Power: The Official History of the New South Wales Branch Of the Australian Labor Party, Sydney, 1991;
31. Robert Murray, The Split: Australian Labor in the Fifties, Melbourne, 1972.
32. Rodney Cavalier, T h e Australian Labor Party at Branch Level: Guildford, Hunters Hill and Panania Branches in the 1950s', in A Century of Social Change: Labor History Essays Volume Four, Sydney, 1992.
33. Jim Hagan and Ken Turner, A History of the Labor Party in New South Wales 1891-1991, Melbourne, 1991.
34. Gollan, op. cit.; A. Davidson, The Communist Party of Australia, Stanford, 1969.
35. Stuart Macintyre, 'Australian responses to unemployment in the last Depression', in Jill Roe (ed), Unemployment - are there lessons from history?, Sydney, 1985, p. 27.
36. Greg Patmore, 'Community and Australian labour history', in Terry Irving (ed), Challenges to Labour History, Sydney, 1994, p. 178.
37. For examples of the studies see: A. Metcalfe, For Freedom and Dignity. Historical Agency and Class Structures in the Coalfields of NSW, Sydney, 1988;
38. E. McEwen, The Newcastle Coalmining District of NSW 1860-1900, PhD thesis, University of Sydney, 1979;
39. Peter Cochrane, The Wonthaggi Coal Strike, 1934', Labour History, no. 27, 1974;
40. Erik Eklund, 'Class, Locality and Region at Port Kembla', Labour History, no. 66, 1994.
41. Greg Patmore, 'Labour-Community Coalitions and State Enterprise: Retrenchment at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory, 1918-1932', Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 39, no. 2, 1997 (forthcoming).
42. Ellen McEwen, The Ties that Divide', in Verity Burgmann and Jenny Lee (eds), Staining the Wattle, Fitzroy, 1988.
43. Moore, op. cit, pp. 25-9.
44. 'Murrumbidgee Region: Population - Final Figures, Census 30 June 1933, 1947 and 1954' and' The Murrumbidgee Region: The work force engaged in the principal groups of industry in the Municipalities, Shires and Region at the Census of 30 June 1954', Mitchell Shire Council Papers (MSCP), RW82/Box 7/125, Charles Sturt University Regional Archives (CSURA).
45. Australian Women's Movement Against Socialisation - DA, 5 November 1947, p. 1;
46. Liberal Party of Australia - DA, 13 October 1945, p. 2, 9 April 1949, p. 2;
47. The W&DFDL - DA, 6 September 1947, p. 1.
48. See for example: DA, 2 March 1944, p. 2, 10 May 1946, p. 2, 2 March 1948, p. 2, 26 May 1949, p. 2, and 19 December 1952, p. 2
49. Wagga Wagga Annual Report, [H.V. McKay] Chairman's Report', 7 March 1951, enclosed in Graziers' Association of New South Wales, Wagga Wagga Branch, minutes, E256/1521, Noel Butlin Archives, Australian National University (NBA).
50. DA, 22 April 1947, p. 2, 21 February 1950, p. 2, 14 January 1953, p. 2.
51. DA, 1954; Interviews with John Winterbottom, 8 and 22 March 1996.
52. DA, 16 August 1951, p. 2, 21 August 1954, p. 2.
53. DA, 12 November 1952, p. 2.
54. DA, 21 October 1920, p. 2.
55. See for example The Printer, 9 June 1939, pp. 58-9.
56. Communist Review, February 1936, p. 55.
57. DA, 19 June 1939, p. 7.
58. DA, 17 October 1941, p. 2;
59. Labor Council of New South Wales minutes, 1941, MSS 2074/vol 23, Mitchell Library (ML), Sydney
60. DA, 13 May 1943, p. 2;
61. 14 May 1943, p. 2;
62. and 21 May 1943, p. 3.
63. Sherry Morris, 'Notes on the Wagga Wagga Trades and Labor Council 1941-49', pp. 71 and 73-74.
64. Rules of the Wagga Wagga & District Trades & Labor Council, Building Workers' Industrial Union of Australia (BWIUA), Z291/Box 11, NBA;
65. DA, 2 August 1943, p. 2, 21 February 1944, p. 3;
66. Railroad, 24 August 1943, p. 2. The registration, although not compulsory, provided the TLC with status, form and recognition and protected it from prosecution under restraint of trade and anti-combination laws. It was also not unusual;
67. the Labor Council of NSW was registered on 27 February 1906 and the Newcastle Trades Hall Council on 25 January 1900.
68. Unions: Railroad, 21 September 1943, p. 3, 30 March 1945, p. 2;
69. ALP: DA, 5 February 1946, p. 2, 15 August 1946, p. 2;
70. Social activities: DA, 5 June 1943, p. 5;
71. 14 April 1945, p. 2, 12 June 1946, p. 2.
72. Shop Assistants: Railroad, 3 August 1945, p. 4; TWU: DA, 2 February 1945, p. 3, 7 August 1945, p. 2;
73. ARU: Railroad, 22 June 1943, p. 2;
74. ASE: DA, 31 July 1944, p. 2;
75. Teachers' Federation: Education, 15 December 1944, p. 60, Tribune, 9 March 1944, p. 2;
76. PIEUA: The Printer, 10 September 1943, p. 82;
77. BWIUA: Trade Union Review, 15 July 1943, p. 4;
78. Munition Workers and Council Employees: DA, 13 May 1943, p. 3. The ARU Womens' Auxiliary had also affiliated. The AWU did not affiliate at any time in the period to 1960 and is another example of this Union's aloofness from peak union councils.
79. DA, 22 October 1943, p. 3, 15 August 1944, p. 2, and 12 March 1945, p. 2;
80. Railroad, 25 January 1946, p. 4.
81. DA, 12 May 1943, p.3.
82. J. R. Lancaster, For The Convening Committee, TLC to Shire Clerk, MSC, 28 March 1944. MSCP, RW82/Box 63/132, CSURA.
83. DA, 24 April 1944, p. 4.
84. DA, 12 June 1944, p. 2.
85. DA, 12 and 13 June 1944.
86. DA, 28 July 1944, p. 2, 22 August 1944, p. 2;
87. 'Regional Development and the Murrumbidgee Regional Development Committee', n.d. MSCP, RW82/Box 7/124, CSURA.
88. Hours: Wagga Wagga City Council (WWCC), Minutes of Ordinary Meeting (MOM), 17 May 1946 and BWIUA (NSW Branch), State Executive Minutes, 2 April 1947. BWIUA/Z534/Box 139. NBA;
89. Indonesia: DA, 11 October 1945, p. 8;
90. Buses: Council of the Municipality of Wagga Wagga, MOM, 16 February 1945;
91. Housing: WWCC, MOM, 24 January 1947 and 14 February 1947;
92. Prices: DA, 12 August 1948, p. 2;
93. Radio licence: Chifley Papers, CRS M1458/NN (trades and labour councils). Australian Archives(AA).
94. DA, 2-6 May 1946, pp. 1-2 and 11 May 1946, p. 2.
95. Co-operative Society: Railroad, 26 October 1945, p. 8, DA, 16 November 1945, p. 3;
96. Markets: WWCC, MOM, 25 June 1948, pp. 3-4 and 4 July 1952, p. 3.
97. See Rupert Lockwood, black armada: Australia and the struggle for Indonesian independence 1942-49, Sydney, 1982.
98. Rules of the Wagga Wagga & District Trades & Labor Council. BWIUA, Z291/Box 11, NBA; DA, 29 October 1946, p. 1, 2 December 1946, p. 2.
99. Trade Union Review, 15 November 1943, p. 3.
100. W. Lees, Secretary, Albury and Border Trades and Labor Council to F. Lowden (sic), Secretary, Newcastle Trades Hall Council (NTHC), 30 January 1945. NTHC, A5065/1945, University of Newcastle Archives (UNA).
101. 'Conference Of Provincial Labour Councils Of Southern NSW, Druids' Hall, Goulburn, Saturday, July 28, 1945', enclosed in L. S. George, Secretary, Illawarra District Trades & Labour Council to R. F. Louden, Secretary, NTHC, 30 July 1945. NTHC, A5078/1950, UNA;
102. 'Meeting Of Committee Set Up To Consider Labor Council Organisation In Country Areas', 31 October 1945. NTHC, A5067/1946, UNA.
103. DA, 24 April 1947, p. 2;
104. The Postal Advocate, 21 February 1949, p. 5.
105. The Postal Advocate, 15 October 1946, p. 13;
106. DA, 30 October 1948, p. 1;
107. The Printer, Branch and Sub-Branch Membership Lists 1940-50.
108. DA, 12 July 1948, p. 2.
109. DA, 17-26 November 1948.
110. Tribune, 21 June 1946, 9 July 1946;
111. C. H. Lake, Wagga Wagga CPA Branch secretary to Mrs Quinlan, 13 November 1943. Australian Security Intelligence Organisation files, CRS A6122/4/778, AA.
112. Bourke and Ganmain: DA, 11 March 1949, p.l, Coolamon and Ganmain Review, 18 November 1949, p. 4;
113. WWCC: WWCC, MOM, 28 November 1947 and DA, 13 June 1952, p. 1;
114. Progress Associations: DA, 22 July 1952, pp. 2-3 and 7 October 1952, p. 2.
115. Tom Sheridan, Division Of Labour: Industrial Relations In The Chifley Years 1945-1949, Melbourne, 1989, ch. 10;
116. Markey, op. cit., pp. 291-2, 357-8; Davidson, op. cit., pp. 130-1.
117. DA, 12 August 1948, p. 2;
118. 'Minutes of special meeting of Wagga district convened by direction of the state executive... 26 September 1947'. BWIUA, Z534/Box 139, NBA;
119. Morris, op. cit., pp. 7-8.
120. DA, 12 August 1948, p. 2 and 30 October 1948, p. 1. The communists were able to control the executive because until the cold war erupted in late 1947 there seems to have been little interest among delegates to turn up to meetings. In such an environment, it was relatively easy for a small and determined group to gain control.
121. Australian Hotel: DA, 28 October 1948-19 November 1948;
122. Abattoir: DA, 31 August 1948-11 October 1948;
123. Commercial Hotel: DA, 3-4 September 1948;
124. Hanks: DA, 1-17 September 1948
125. Labor News, September 1948, p. 7;
126. Davidson, op. cit., 133-4.
127. DA, 4 September 1948, pp.1-2, 30 October 1948, p. 1.
128. BWIUA, NSW Branch executive minutes, 1947-48, Z534/Boxes 138-9, NBA;
129. 'Report of Wagga 22 [August 1947]'. BWIUA, Z534/Box 92, NBA;
130. DA, 14 July 1947, p. 2, 28 June 1948, p. 1, 29 June 1948, p. 1.
131. DA, 18 July 1949, p. 4;
132. Morris, op. cit., pp. 7-9. The miners vote was 8/5 with 4 abstentions and the ALP vote was 8/6 with 3 abstentions.
133. DA, 12 February 1951, p. 2.
134. DA, 14 February 1951, p. 2.
135. C. P. Roohan, Honorary Secretary, TLC to A. E. Monk, President, Australian Council of Trade Unions, 11 June 1951. ACTU, N21/561, NBA.
136. Railroad, 13 April 1951, p. 4; Sherry Morris, 'Interview with Jim Brill, February 1992'.
137. Interview with J. D. (Bill) Doyle, 18 April 1995. Doyle was very active in the unions and the ALP.
138. Gerard Henderson, Mr. Santamaría and the Bishops, Sydney, 1982, pp. 105, 111-23, 139, 153;
139. Frank Keating, Editor, Catholic Worker to W. J. Chapman, Wagga Wagga, 14 April 1969, Catholic Worker correspondence files, University of Melbourne Archives.
140. BWIUA: DA, 26 May 1951, p. 2 and BWIUA, NSW Branch executive minutes, 2 July 1951, BWIUA, Z285/Boxl39, NBA;
141. ASCJ: DA, 25 November 1952, p.l, Carpenters News, July-September 1954, p. 2;
142. TLC: R. F. Gerhard, Honorary Secretary, TLC to State Secretary, Teachers' Federation, 7 November 1955, Teachers Federation, N111/1225, NBA;
143. DLP: DA, 28 February 1957, p. 2; Industrial Groups: DA, 8 December 1952, p. 1.
144. DA, 24 March 1952, p. 1;
145. Davidson, op. cit., p. 128;
146. Patrick O'Farrell, The Catholic Church and Community in Australia: A History, Melbourne, 1977, p. 387.
147. BWIUA, NSW Branch executive minutes, 16 April 1951 and 28 May 1951, Z285/Boxl39, NBA;
148. DA, 26 March 1951, p. 5 and 26 May 1951, p. 2.
149. R. F. Gerhard, 'Letter to the Editor', DA, 14 May 1951, p. 2.
150. BWIUA, NSW Branch executive minutes, 2 July 1951, 19 and 26 August 1952, Z285/Boxl39, NBA;
151. BWIUA, NSW Branch Executive Report For Period Ending 3 August 1952, Z534/Box 99, NBA.
152. BWIUA, NSW Branch, 'Executive Report 24/10/51-20/11/51' and 'Circular No 44', 24 October 1951, Z285/Box 129, NBA;
153. Tribune, 28 November 1951, p. 5;
154. DA, 24 November 1951, p.l.
155. WWCC, MOM, 30 November 1951 and 29 February 1952;
156. BWIUA, NSW Branch executive minutes, 15 January 1952, 11 March 1952, Z285/Boxl39, NBA.
157. Carpenters News, July-September 1954, p. 5;
158. DA, 25 November 1952, p. 1, 8 December 1952, pp. 1-2.
159. Donald Duncan, Secretary, Wagga District, BWIUA to State Secretary, BWIUA, 6 June 1953. BWIUA, Z534/97, NBA;
160. DA, 25 July 1953, p. 2.
161. DA, 10 July 1950, p. 2;
162. C. L. Argus, Secretary, TLC to Secretary, Teachers' Federation, 18 July 1954 and R. F. Gerhard, Honorary Secretary, TLC to State Secretary, Teachers' Federation, 1 November 1955. Teachers' Federation, N111/1225, NBA.
163. DA, 25 July 1953, p. 2.
164. Gerhard to State Secretary, Teachers' Federation, 1 November 1955. Teachers' Federation, N111/1225, NBA.
165. DA, 24 June 1954, p. 2, 25 June 1954, p. 2. Stoppages were held in 1953 (2), 1954, 1956, 1958, 1959 (2) and 1960.
166. 'Minutes of the Rank and File Rights Committee', 29 September 1956, discussed a letter from J. D. Doyle, Secretary, Wagga Wagga ALP branch to [W] Slowgrove, 5 September 1956Labor Council of NSW Collection, MSS 2074, Add on 1877/110, ML;
167. J.D. Doyle to W.R. Colbourne, General Secretary, ALP NSW, 1 October 1956, 2 October 1956 and 9 October 1956. ALP NSW Division Collection, MSS 2083/151, Item 365, ML;
168. DA, 28 February 1957, p. 2, 8 January 1958, p. 2, 20 January 1958, p. 2.
169. DA, 14 July 1959, p. 4, 6 August 1959, p. 9, 11 August 1959, p. 4, 13 October 1959, p. 3, 15 March 1960, p. 2;
170. Labor Council of NSW minutes, 1 October 1959, MSS 2074, vol. 41 and executive minutes, 8 March 1962, MSS 2074, vol 16. ML;
171. E.K. Geaghan, Honorary Secretary, TLC to Secretary, BWIUA, NSW Branch., 5 March 1962 and P. Clancy, Secretary, to Geaghan, 14 March 1962. BWIUA, Z534/Boxll7, NBA.
172. DA, 15 March 1960, p. 2.